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Introduction
Core Keeper is a survival sandbox game that immerses players in a procedurally generated underground world filled with exploration, crafting, farming, and combat. Developed by Pugstorm and published by Fireshine Games, it offers both single-player and cooperative modes for up to eight players. Released in early access on March 8, 2022, and fully launched on August 27, 2024, Core Keeper combines elements reminiscent of Minecraft, Terraria, and Stardew Valley.
This guide aims to provide a step-by-step walkthrough to help both new and returning players navigate the various aspects of Core Keeper, from the basics of mining and crafting to advanced strategies for combat and exploration.
Table of Contents
1. Getting Started: Establishing Your Base
Upon starting a new game, you'll find yourself in a dimly lit cavern near the Core—a mysterious ancient machine. Your immediate objectives should be:
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Crafting Basic Tools: Use the wood from surrounding roots to craft a Wood Pickaxe, Wood Shovel, and Torches. These tools are essential for mining resources, terraforming, and lighting your surroundings.
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Building a Workbench: Place the Basic Workbench to unlock advanced crafting recipes, enabling the creation of better tools and equipment.
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Establishing a Safe Haven: Construct a base near the Core chamber. This location offers proximity to essential resources and serves as a safe retreat from hostile creatures.
2. Mining and Resource Gathering
Mining is fundamental to Core Keeper's progression. Here's how to optimize your mining endeavors:
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Identifying Ores: Look for sparkling blocks within the walls, indicating the presence of valuable ores like Copper and Tin.
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Upgrading Tools: As you gather resources, upgrade your pickaxe to mine more efficiently and access deeper areas.
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Resource Management: Collect a variety of ores and materials to ensure you can craft and upgrade essential tools and equipment.
3. Crafting Essential Tools and Equipment
Crafting is at the heart of survival in Core Keeper. Focus on:
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Tool Upgrades: Progress from wooden tools to copper and tin variants, enhancing durability and mining efficiency.
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Armor and Weapons: Equip yourself with armor sets and weapons crafted from materials like copper and iron to improve defense and combat capabilities.
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Utility Items: Craft items like the Hoe for farming and the Lantern for improved lighting during exploration.
4. Farming and Food Management
Sustenance is crucial for survival:
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Food Sources: Forage for items like Heart Berries, Glow Tulips, and Bomb Peppers.
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Cultivating Crops: Use a Hoe to till the soil and plant seeds found during exploration. Water them with a Watering Can to ensure growth.
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Cooking Dishes: Utilize the Cooking Pot to combine ingredients, creating meals that restore health and provide buffs.
5. Exploring Biomes and Discovering Secrets
The underground world is diverse and expansive:
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Biome Diversity: Explore various biomes such as The Undergrounds, Clay Caves, and Forgotten Ruins, each offering unique resources and challenges.
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Mapping the World: Use the in-game map to track your exploration and uncover hidden areas.
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Uncovering Lore: Discover ancient artifacts and lore scattered throughout the world to piece together the game's story.
6. Combat Strategies: Facing Enemies and Bosses
Surviving the depths requires combat prowess:
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Enemy Encounters: Prepare for various creatures, from slimes to more formidable foes as you delve deeper.
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Boss Battles: Challenge bosses like Glurch the Abominous Mass and Ghorm the Devourer to obtain valuable rewards and progress the storyline.
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Combat Tips: Utilize ranged weapons, such as bows, to engage enemies from a distance, especially when starting.
7. Advancing Through Skill Trees
Character development enhances gameplay:
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Skill Progression: Engage in activities like mining, crafting, and combat to level up corresponding skills.
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Skill Benefits: Each skill offers unique perks, such as increased damage, improved crafting efficiency, or enhanced health regeneration.
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Strategic Focus: Tailor your skill development to your preferred playstyle, whether it's combat-focused, resource-gathering, or building.
8. Building and Customizing Your Base
Create a personalized underground haven:
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Base Expansion: Designate areas for crafting stations, storage, farming, and NPC housing.
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Decorative Elements: Customize your base with furniture, lighting, and structural designs to make it uniquely yours.
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Functionality: Ensure your base is equipped with all necessary stations and storage for efficient gameplay.
9. Multiplayer Tips: Collaborating with Friends
Core Keeper becomes even more enjoyable when experienced with friends. Here’s how to make the most of multiplayer:
Setting Up Multiplayer
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Hosting a Game: One player can host a world and invite others via Steam or direct connection. Make sure to establish a base and have roles in mind.
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Joining a Game: Players can jump into others' worlds, share resources, and tackle challenges together. Progress carries over to your character, but not the host’s world.
Benefits of Multiplayer
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Boss fights become more manageable with coordinated attacks.
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Resource gathering and map exploration speed up significantly.
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Building large, aesthetically pleasing bases becomes easier with shared effort.
10. Endgame Content and Beyond
Once you've beaten the main bosses and unlocked key areas, the game opens up in several new ways.
The Core Awakens
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Defeating bosses powers up the Core, unlocking new portals, lore, and gear.
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You’ll gain access to new zones like the Desert of Beginnings and the Sunken Sea.
Legendary Equipment and Mods
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Use rare crafting materials from endgame zones to create legendary weapons and armor.
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Experiment with enchantments and item modifiers to fine-tune your build.
Continuous Updates and Mods
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The developers frequently release new content, biomes, and events.
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The community has created mods that add quality-of-life features, visual upgrades, and even custom quests.
Conclusion
Core Keeper is more than just another survival crafting game—it’s a deep, endlessly explorable experience with a charming pixel-art aesthetic and engaging mechanics. Whether you're playing solo or with friends, the game rewards patience, creativity, and curiosity.
From setting up your first humble base to exploring dangerous new biomes and crafting legendary gear, Core Keeper’s underground world is rich with secrets and stories. This how-to guide covered the essential systems to help you grow from a lost adventurer to a powerful underground explorer.
As updates continue to roll out and the community grows, Core Keeper remains one of the most promising and replayable sandbox experiences on PC and consoles.
